Attachment for saddle sttrrups



April 11, 1961 R. w. HORST 2,978,855

ATTACHMENT FOR SADDLE STIRRUPS Filed March 2, 1959 IN VEN TOR. RAL PH W. HORST ATTORNEYS Fig. 1 taken from approximately the by the line 2-2, Fig. l. V 7

As shown in the drawings, the attachment of my inven- United States Patent ATTACHMENT FOR SADDLE STIRRUPS "Ralph William Horst, Adams County, Colo.

- (Rte. 1, Box 73, Denver 16,, Colo.)

Filed Mar. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 796,524

6 Claims. or. 54-47 This invention relates to attachments for saddle stirrups.

Most saddles and particularly Western type saddles have the saddle leather pivoted to the tree portion in such a way that the normal position of the stirrup positions its opening parallel to the animals body rather than at substantially right angles, as is necessary to provide safe and easy access.

The usual method for obtaining a satisfactory stirrup position is to soak the saddle leather with a water solution, usually soap and water, after which it is twisted and worked until it attains the desired positioning. Unless done properly, the stirrup tends to return to its original position causing difliculty and hazard in mounting and demounting, as well as discomfort occasioned by the position it assumes against the riders leg.

It is an object of my invention to provide a simple, durable and economical attachment for supporting a stirrup on saddle leather in a position to provide ready entrance and withdrawal of a riders foot, and which provides the necessary pivoting to assure the required instirrup position of the foot.

Another object of my invention is to provide such an attachment that is easily installed on or removed from a saddle and which permits the usual strap adjustment of stirrup elevation when in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple, durable and economical stirrup-supporting attachment which maintains the saddle leather flat against the flaps of the saddle when in use so as to provide maximum comfort for the rider.

Other objects reside in novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, all of whichwill be disclosed in the course of the following description.

The practice of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment. In the drawings,

Fig. l is a side elevation of one form of attachment according to my invention shown in stirrup supporting position; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the attachment shown in position indicated tion preferably comprises a fiat or generally planar upright portion 3 having .a guideror. loop 4 supported from and in spaced relation to portion 3 to provide a passage supported forwardly from plate 3 by an'interconnecting portion 7 which has'an opening 8 through which-the outer stretch or, saddle 'leather 1 8 is inserted. The interior of the depending portion has a bore or passage for reception of a pivot pin 12 having threaded end portions 13 and nuts 14 and washers 15, which hold the stirrup 9 in swinging or hinged relation to the attachment. The stirrup is thus maintained beyond the plane of the flat portion.

When a two-part assembly is utilized, the portion 3 is connected with the portion 7 by a pin16 extending through a bore in portion 3, and a recess 20 in portion 7 is shaped to admit a tongue or projection 21 on portion 3, by which the members are held for limited tilting or rocking movement about pin 16, through a segment of only a few degrees. This arrangement permits use of a single form of fiat portion 3, with right and left hand members 6 and permits easy assembly and dismantling.

The attachment may be mounted on a saddle in the manner depicted in Fig. 1, and will utilize a conventional saddle leather arrangement with lengthening and shortening adjustments of the usual type. The saddle leather lies flat against the flaps in this arrangement or substantially parallel to the sides of the animal, and the stirrup 9 is positioned with its opening directly accessible for foot entrance and withdrawal. Therefore, when a rider starts to mount, the adjacent stirrup is in an easily accessible position and when he swings into the saddle, the other stirrup is in proper position for insertion of the foot without probing for the entrance opening.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings comprises a preferred form. If desired, an integral assembly may be utilized, and in such event separate right and left hand members are formed without having any common interchangeable parts.

Changes in the shape, proportioning and arrangement of parts may be availed of within the scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stirrup support comprising a body having an upper planar portion, a lower extension portion and an interconnecting portion between said upper and lower portions, the lower portion having means substantially to one side of the plane of the planar portion providing a pivotal support for a stirrup with the pivotal axis maintained substantially perpendicular to the plane of 7 2. A stirrup support comprising abody having an upper fiat portion, a lower extension portion and an interconnecting portionbetween said upper and lower 9 portions, the lower portion having means substantially to one sideof the plane of the planar portion providing a leather in supporting relation tov said body with the stretches of said loop substantially parallel to the sides of an animal with which the stirrup support is used.

-3. A stirrup support comprising, a body'ha'ving an upper planar portion, a lower, extension portion'and an interconnecting portion between said upper andlower portions, pivotal means connecting the interconnecting portion to thelupper portion. adjacent the. plane of and near the bottom of said upper portion, complemental means on the upper portion and the interconnecting por-' tion by which the said upper and interconnectingportions are held to limited tilting movement about said pivotal means, the lower portion having means substantially to one side of the plane of the planar portion providing a pivotal support for a stirrup, with the pivotal axis maintained substantially perpendicular to the plane of said planar portion whereby the stirrup is maintained substantially to one side of said plane of the planar portion, and guide means on said upper portion for securing a loop of saddle leather in supporting relation to said body with the stretches of said loop substantially parallel to said planar portion and the sides of an animal with which the stirrup is used.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the complemental means are tongue and groove means.

5'. A stirrup support comprising, a body having an upper planar portion, a lower extension portion and an interconnecting portion between said upper and lower portions, pivotal means connecting the interconnecting portion to the upper portion adjacentthe plane of and near the bottom ofsaid upper portion, complemental means on the'up'per portion and the interconnecting por .tion by which the said upper and interconnecting portions are held to limited tilting movement about said pivotal means, the lower portion having means substantially to one side of the plane of the planar portion providing a pivotal support for a stirrup with the pivotal axis maintained substantially perpendicular to the plane of said flat portion whereby the stirrup is maintained substantially to one side of said plane of the planar portion, and guide means on said upper portion for securing a loop of saddle leather in supporting relation to said body with the stretches of said loop substantially parallel to the sides of an animal with which the stirrup support is used.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the guide means is mounted on one-side of the planar member substantially intermediate its ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

